Converting to bucket seats 72 Satellite
- Thread starter akdoc
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Bruzilla
Well-Known Member
Home Depot. 
I just got some bar stock from there and made my own brackets.
I just got some bar stock from there and made my own brackets.
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Home Depot.
How do they adjust?
Bruzilla
Well-Known Member
Ah... your seats don't have tracks. I thought you meant the brackets for reinforcing the sheet metal under the floor pan.
I'm guessing you're not worried about keeping things original, and that makes life easier. First, take a look at the floor pan where you'll be mounting the seats. Is the area level? On 74 cars, there is a raised area on the door side of the seat so one track is about an inch lower in height than the other. I think the height of the 71-73 tracks are the same left and right, but definitely double check that.
This set http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-Bucke...ash=item280ac7fb46:g:kSkAAOSwHnFVm2gL&vxp=mtr are the same size left and right and might work. You could use some similar type tracks from any vehicle with similar length tracks. You would just need to drill holes where the tracks bolt to the bottom of the seat frame.
If the mounting studs don't line up, you can drill new holes in the floor pan and reinforce the metal underneath, or you can cut the studs off and have the welded on in the right location.
I'm 6'6" and need extra legroom, so I mounted my seats 2" further back, which gave me my legroom but also made the seat lean back because the rear seat floor is lower than the front seat. I cut the rear studs off the tracks and welded some that were 2" longer on, then added spacers to elevate the rear of the seat about 1 3/4" so it sits at the right angle again.
I'm guessing you're not worried about keeping things original, and that makes life easier. First, take a look at the floor pan where you'll be mounting the seats. Is the area level? On 74 cars, there is a raised area on the door side of the seat so one track is about an inch lower in height than the other. I think the height of the 71-73 tracks are the same left and right, but definitely double check that.
This set http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-Bucke...ash=item280ac7fb46:g:kSkAAOSwHnFVm2gL&vxp=mtr are the same size left and right and might work. You could use some similar type tracks from any vehicle with similar length tracks. You would just need to drill holes where the tracks bolt to the bottom of the seat frame.
If the mounting studs don't line up, you can drill new holes in the floor pan and reinforce the metal underneath, or you can cut the studs off and have the welded on in the right location.
I'm 6'6" and need extra legroom, so I mounted my seats 2" further back, which gave me my legroom but also made the seat lean back because the rear seat floor is lower than the front seat. I cut the rear studs off the tracks and welded some that were 2" longer on, then added spacers to elevate the rear of the seat about 1 3/4" so it sits at the right angle again.
My seats do have the tracks. There are two bolts coming down. I thought there was a bracket that they bolt into. Do they just bolt into the floor? I haven't removed the bench seat yet to see how it's attached.
mopar 3 B
Well-Known Member
If you are installing 71-73 B body seats you will need to drill the dimple locations in the original floor pans.
Bruzilla
Well-Known Member
Yep. You just drill the holes. Is your carpeting in or out? You'll need to pull the carpet to find the dimples. You can just mark the locations of where the track studs touch the carpet and drill there, but drilling through carpet is a PITA.
If you pull the carpet, place it back in and stick a phillips head screwdriver up through the holes from underneath and feel for the screwdriver under the carpet. That'll tell you where to cut a small hole for the stud to pass through.
As for seat covers, you can save a lot of money doing them yourself. They're pretty easy to get on and all you need is hog rings and a pair of hog ring pliers and some good wire cutting pliers to cut the old rings off.
If you pull the carpet, place it back in and stick a phillips head screwdriver up through the holes from underneath and feel for the screwdriver under the carpet. That'll tell you where to cut a small hole for the stud to pass through.
As for seat covers, you can save a lot of money doing them yourself. They're pretty easy to get on and all you need is hog rings and a pair of hog ring pliers and some good wire cutting pliers to cut the old rings off.
dodge1972
Well-Known Member
Prefer to use electric seats from a late 70 B body. Mount the electric seat control below the front of the seat. Your seats will bolt directly to the rails, but the later model floor pans are a little different. Use spacer to level the seats. This mod with allow you to tilt the seat. Enjoy the ride, its worth the effort
The carpet is still in. Thanks for the information on drilling. I do have someone to do the covers for me. I ordered the seat material and I'm really excited about it! It should be just a few weeks until that project is getting started.
- - - Updated - - -
My seats do have the tracks, it just took me a while to get to see how they operated. I should just be able to drill into the stock locations where the bolts would have been had they been buckets. This project has been sitting in my wife's art studio (in our basement) but we have the new material and the project will finally be picked up in a matter of a few weeks! I can't wait.
- - - Updated - - -
My seats do have the tracks, it just took me a while to get to see how they operated. I should just be able to drill into the stock locations where the bolts would have been had they been buckets. This project has been sitting in my wife's art studio (in our basement) but we have the new material and the project will finally be picked up in a matter of a few weeks! I can't wait.
dodge1972
Well-Known Member
Just in case you missed it. The floor is reinforced beneath the track bolts with a metal plate about 3"x4" with a 1/2 hole welded to the floor. Its important because if you have an auto accident, your seat will disconnect from the floor:sad5:
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